Self-propelled traveling device



Nov. 25, 1947.

M.CARUSO SELF-PROPELLED TRAVELING DEVICE Filed May 3, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. fl/A/P/O C4/Pl/J'0.

4770/PA/5K Nov. 25, .1947. M. CARUSO 2,431,542

SELF-PROPELLED TRAVELING DEVICE Filed May 3, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 35 25 as 24 I l 26 4 26 I 5. 5 Tf T Z3 m Z7 22 f0 Z5 Z3 227 42 44 43 30 E INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY. Y

Patented Nov. 25, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SELF-PROPELLED TRAVELING DEVICE tories Application May 3, 1945, Serial No. 591,733

17 Claims. 1

This invention broadly relates to what may be termed a self-powered, automatic traveling appliance or a mobile carrier capable of moving in two directions, the motive source of the carrier being adapted to not only induce the automatic movement in one direction against a counterforce, but to also automatically compensate for any variations occurring in such counterforce.

In article dispensing or vending machines it is common practice to stack up articles within elongated guide ways and to dispense the lowermost articles, and causing the next lowest articles to move to their lowermost position by the action of gravity, usually augmenting the inherent weight of the articles by additional metal weights placed on the uppermost articles. The disadvantage of the aforedescribed usual construction of vending machines resides in the fact that the weight of a high stack of articles plus the metal weight exert an excessive force upon the lowermost articles and renders diificult their ejection. This disadvantage prevails during practically the entire downward movement of the stack of articles, but is gradually lessened as the uppermost articles approach their lower position. When, however, the stack of articles is replenished, the difiiculty in removing the lowest articles again becomes evident.

The present invention has for its main object to provide a mobile article support which automatically compensates for the gradually lessening weight of the articles to be dispensed so that the dispensing operation and the force required therefor remains substantially constant.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-propelled mobile article support of a simple, relatively inexpensive and very effective construction whereby a stack of articles becomes gradually elevated as the uppermost article is dispensed and whereby the lifting force actuating the support decreases in proportion to the de crease in weight of the articles carried thereon.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a mobile article support wherein is employed a fixedly held, upright guide member with which is operatively associated a selfpropelled carriage adapted to move in upward or downward substantially vertical directions relative to said guide member.

The foregoing and other more specific objects and important advantages of the present invention will become more fully understood from the ensuing description in connection with the accompanying drawing, the latter illustrating the present invention in a more or less diagrammati- 2 cal form, and being intended for explanatory purposes only, and wherein;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one of the presently preferred forms of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a top View of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the spring motor employed in the device shown in section, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 5;

Fig, .5 is a section taken on line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a top view of a modified form of the device; and

Fig. '7 is a fragmental cross section through another modified guide bar and pulley and drum arrangement.

Referring now specifically to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, numeral Ill denotes a substantially vertically disposed guide member preferably in the form of a fiat bar, and which bar, for purposes hereinafter stated, is advantageously inclined rearwardly to an extent of say 3 degrees.

Associatedwith or forming an integral part of the bar is a gear rack ll. Operative in both upward and downward directions upon guide bar it is a self-powered carriage or traveller 92, which forms a self-contained and independent unit which may be either placed into engagement with or bodily removed from guide bar it. This carriage comprises a framework provided with an article supporting platform i3, having a cut-out l4, and from which platform depend two frame legs l5 and l6. Frame leg i6 extends beyond the rear edge of a guide bar I?) and also possesses a downwardly directed frame part 58, whereas frame 'leg 15 is arranged in front of bar 18 and is shorter than frame leg 55. Both frame legs are bifurc'atedat If for the reception of fiattened side faces l8 milled-out in the reduced threaded ends I9 of shaft'2ll, see Fig.5. Threaded ends [9 of the shaft are fixedly held within the forked frame ends by nuts 2i or any other suitable means. Journaledupon shaft 20 is a hollow drum 22 composed of adrum body 23 provided with a removable cover 24. From both the body and the cover extends a hub 25, the outer edges of which coinciding with the outer machined faces ofshaft 20 adjacent to the milled-out portions of the threaded shaft ends.

Extending from the periphery of the drum body there are arranged gear teeth 26 and an annular guide flange '21, the latter being spaced from the gear teeth so that a guide groove 28 is provided for the reception of the front edge of guide bar l0. Gear teeth 26 of the drum body are in engagement with the teeth of gear rack ll. Opposite and above drum 22 three is rotatably lodged upon pin 29 a grooved guide roller 38, shown partly in cross section in Fig. 1, the groove of the roller serving for accommodating the rear edge of guide bar I 0. Below roller 30 and also below and in rear of drum 22 there is arranged a grooved guide ferrule 3!, the groove of which being adapted to accommodate and to cooperate with the rear edge of guide bar Hi. This guide ferrule is shown partly in cross section in Fig. 1, and it will be noted that the reduced portion thereof is slightly spaced from the rear edge of guide bar 10, to indicate that only the flanges of the ferrule serve as guide means in engaging the sides of the bar near its rear edge. Ferrule 3| is fixedly secured to the lower end of frame part I6 of frame leg It by means of a screw 32 and may be removed from the frame leg when the carriage is to be disassociated from guide bar Hi. When ferrule 3| is removed, the front end of the carriage may be swung forward thus disengaging the teeth of drum 22 from gear rack II and guide groove 28 from the front edge of guide bar IE1, thereby facilitating the sidewise removal of the carriage from the gear rack and guide bar combination. Thus it is evident that only drum 22 and roller 30 are in operative engagement with the front and rear edges of the bar, respectively. Both are adapted to rotate when the carriage moves, whereas ferrule 3| is stationary and serves as a lower guide for the carriage. It also holds the gear teeth 26 of the drum in engagement with the gear teeth of rack ll.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be observed that from the interior periphery of the drum extends a projection 33, a similar projection 34 being provided on shaft 20. These projections are intended to engage the ends of a coil spring 35 housed within the drum. That spring is so connected with projections 33 and 34 that it becomes wound and is brought under tension when the drum is caused to rotate in one direction, and, when the drum is released, to unwind and thus causing the drum to rotate in opposite direction. In the embodiment illustrated, the intended stationary end of the spring is secured to projection 34 of fixedly held shaft 20, while the intended movable end of the spring engages projection 33 of the drum. When thus the carriage is moved bodily along the guide in downward direction while gear teeth 26 are in engagement with the teeth of gear rack II, the drum is caused to revolve anti-clockwise, whereby spring 35 is wound and brought under tension. The moment the carriage is released the spring will unwind and cause the rotation of the drum in clockwise direction, and by so doing will elevate the carriage.

In practice it is found necessary to temporarily arrest the movement of the carriage at any point of its travel alon guide bar it], while the spring is under tension. For that purpose there is provided a pawl 36, pivotally suspended at 3'! between the frontal portion of the frame legs, just below cut-out l4. Pawl 35 is preferably held in inoperative position, that is out of engagement with gear teeth 26 of the drum, by any suitable spring and stop arrangement, such as indicated in Fig. 1, and may be brought manually into a teeth-engaging position by swingin it towards the drum. When the pawl enters the space between two of the teeth, the tension of drum spring 35 will keep it in its teeth-engaging position until manually released to assume its normal position shown in Fig. 1.

Modifications Referring now to Fig. 6, in this illustration there is again shown a guide bar Iii with which are operatively engaged drum 22 and roller 30. Adjacent to both sides of bar Iii are arranged gear racks 38 and 39 in engagement with corresponding gear teeth 40 and 4| extending from the periphery of drum 22, It will be observed that the space between the two gear teeth sets of the drum accommodates the frontal edge of guide bar Ill. In every other respect the embodiment shown in Fig. 6 is similar to that disclosed in Fig. 1.

A somewhat different construction of the guide bar and drum arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 7, where drum 22" is provided with a centrally disposed gear teeth set 42, in engagement with a centrally disposed gear rack 43, with two side bars 44 serving as guide means for the gear teeth of drum 22. The rear of gear rack 43 extends into the space between the flanges of roller 30, similarly to the cooperation of guide bars H) and ill with their respective guide rollers, as seen in Figs. 3 and 6. The ultimately desired effect of correctly guiding the carriage frontally and rearwardly along a uide bar and of maintaining the proper spacing and engagement between the gear teeth of the drum and of the gear racks, by the use of a fixedly held, removable ferrule, remains the same in each of the three modifications illustrated.

Operation As clearly indicated in the drawing and disclosed in the description thereof, the present invention contemplates to provide a self-propelled carriage movable along a stationary guide member and which carriage is bodily detachable from the guide member and therefore is rendered exchangeable in respect to the latter.

As one of the many possible applications of the present invention, it is contemplated, for example, that the carriage be employed as a support for articles, preferably of the packaged type, and which articles are intended to be stacked up to form a column movable is upward direction. In order to facilitate the placement of a stack of articles upon platform l3 of the carriage it becomes necessary to roll the carriage to its lowermost position and to retain it in that position during the stacking-up operation. For this purpose pawl 36 is manually moved into the space between two gear teeth of the drum, thereby holding the latter against movement. Now the desired number of articles are placed upon the carriage, whereupon pawl 36 is disengaged from the drum teeth and automatically assumes its normal positionshown in Fig. l. t is assumed that the topmost package of the column placed upon the carriage bears against a fixed stop.

As the empty carriage is rolled downwards, spring 35 within the drum is wound up and brought under tension, and when the carriage reaches its lowermost position the spring is wound to a desired pre-determined degree. The moment pawl 36 is disengaged from the gear teeth of the drum, spring 35 is freed to unwind, and the force of unwinding of the spring moves the carriage in upward direction. The tension of the wound-up spring preferably corresponds approximately to the total weight of the stack of merchandise placed upon the platform, plus a sufficiency of force to moderately press the uppermost package against the stop.

When the uppermost item of the stacked-up merchandise is removed, carriage I2 automatically travels upwards until the next article abuts with the stop. The gradual removal of one article after the other from the stack of merchandise reduces the weight bearing against platform 53 of the carriage, and as the drum spring 35 unwinds and moves the carriage upwards, its tension is lessened in direct proportion to the lessening weight of the diminishing column of articles remaining upon the platform. Thus a very definite relation exists between the varying weight of the merchandise and the variable tension of the spring, which in turn provides uniformity in friction between the article stop and the uppermost article of the merchandise column, and the friction between the uppermost article and the next lower article. These two friction factors governing the positioning of the uppermost article are maintained uniformly throughout the dispension of an entire column of articles from the supporting carriage. Due to the maintenance of the friction uniformity, the force required for the removal of the uppermost merchandise article is also kept uniform, which fact assures afaultless operation of a dispensing machine employing that principle of the present invention.

Obviously the tension of the drum spring may require adjustment, depending upon the weight of articles to be handled. Such adjustment may be easily made by temporarily removing or loosening ferrule 3! to permit the disengagement of the drum teeth from the gear rack, whereupon the drum is free to be turned and the spring placed at the desired tension.

Conclusion The drawings illustrate more or less diagrammatically a few specific embodiments of the pres ent invention. These illustrations, as well as the afore-indicated example of one of the many possible applications of the device, are intended to more clearly bring into: focus the underlying principle of this development. That principle broadl involves the provision of a self-contained entirely independent and self-powered traveler adapted to move bodily in respect to and being readily detachable from a similarly independent stationary guide element.

The power source or motor actuating the traveler forms a part thereof, It may be adjusted and pre-set to produce power effects of any desired magnitude within its mechanical limits. Moreover, the construction of the motor is such that its power effects vary with each change in position of the traveler in respect to the guide element as it moves in either direction along its intended course toward one or the other end of its travel.

That variability in power effects has for its purpose to maintain substantially constant the proportion between two opposite, changeable forces, one force being designed to actuate the traveler in one direction, the other, for instance an always lesser counterforce, being exerted against the traveler in opposite direction. In maintaining constant that proportion and compensating for variations in these forces certain desired results are roduced.

The description alluding to the possible application of the present invention in article dispensing machine is indeed not intended to limit its use for these or similar purposes only. By the same token the modus operandi of the traveler may be reversed, that is the motor spring may be wound and brought under tension when the traveler is caused to move in upward direction, and, when the traveler is released, to unwind and thereby propel the traveler in downward direction, such downward movement being augmented by gravity action. This reversely operating form of the present invention may find numerous uses in many fields.

In the appended illustrations both the motor of the traveler as Well as the guide element upon which it moves are shown equipped with teeth for engagement with each other. Obviously any other means for facilitating the movement of the traveler in'respect to the guide element may be substituted, such as by suitable friction instrumentalities.

Similarly, the guide element is shown and described as being in upright position, and the traveler as being movable vertically in either upward or downward directions, Evidently the same or very similar effects may be produced when the guide element is disposed horizontally or at a perceptible incline, the only change required being the substitution for the variable weight load of a similarly variable counter force movable horizontally or at an angular direction.

It is to be noted, however, that the guide element, irrespective of the position at which it is disposed, is fixedly held in that position and constitutes preferably a linear instrumentality Which is immovable in respect to the traveler. Although it is preferred to use a linear guide element, its form may be altered, such as curving it, shaping it to a spiral or otherwise adapting it to specific requirements, according to the present invention. However, the guide element, irrespective of its shape, must be held fixedly in its desired position.

While the aforedescribed intended results are readily produced by the structures shown and explained, these structures may be changed and improved to meet difierent requirements, wherefore the right is reserved to make changes and improvements in the present invention without departing from the broad scope thereof, as defined in the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. In a mobile article support, the combination with a fixedly held, substantially vertically disposed guide including a gear rack, of a self-propelled carriage movable in respect to said guide, the motive power for said carriage comprising an entirely self-contained, bodily revolvable, completely closed spring drum provided exteriorly with gear teeth, the latter being in operative engagement with the gear rack, the body of the spring drum engaging one edge of the guide member.

2. In a mobile article support, the combination with a fixedly held, substantially vertically disposed guide, of an article carriage detachably associated with and movable relative to said guide, said carriage comprising a self-propelled, mechanically independent structure including means for operatively engaging and for facilitating its bodily movement along the guide, said structure comprising a tiltable frame in which is suspended a spring drum for engagement with one edge of the guide, and one rotatable and another fixed guide element disposed opposite said drum and engaging the other edge of the guide, said fixed element being removable to facilitate the tilting and detachment of the carriage.

3. In an article lifter, the combination witha fixed, substantially vertical guide, of an articlesupporting carriage, independent and detachable from but movable relative to said guide, the latter including at least one gear rack, said carriage comprising a frame having an article-supporting platform and being provided with one fixed and at least two rotatable cooperating guide-engaging means, one of the rotatable means comprising a spring drum having at least one set of gear teeth in engagement with the gear rack, the drum body engaging one edge of the guide, the other rotatable and said fixed guide-engaging means bein disposed opposite to said spring drum and engaging the other edge of the guide, said fixed guide-engaging means being removable to facilitate disengagement of the carriage from the guide.

4. In an article lifter, as per claim 3, said drum comprising a hollow structure revolvable about a shaft held in fixed position in said carriage, a spring within the drum, one end of the spring being secured to the periphery of the drum, the other spring end being in engagement with the shaft, the movement of the carriage along the guide in downward direction being adapted to revolve the drum and thus wind the spring, the unwinding of the latter causing the rolling of the drum in opposite direction and the upward travel of the carriage.

5. In a device of the class indicated, a substantially vertically disposed, fixed guide having at least one gear rack forming a part thereof, an article support in operative engagement with and movable relative to said guide, said guide com-- prising a flat bar, said article support comprising a carriage frame including an article supporting platform, at least one guide roller and a spring drum mounted with the frame, the roller engaging one edge of the bar, the drum engaging its other, opposite edge, a shaft for the drum fixedly held in said carriage, the drum being rotatable upon the shaft, at least one set of gear teeth and annular guide means for accommodating said bar flange being spaced from the gear teeth, the latter engaging the teeth of the gear rack, a spring so mounted in the drum that when the carriage is moved downwardly the drum is caused to rotate in one direction and the spring becomes wound, and, when the carriage is released, the spring is free to unwind to rotate the drum in opposite direction, thereby moving the carriage upwards, a portion of the guide member extending into the space between the gear teeth and the flange of the drum, means for temporarily arresting the movement of the carriage at any desired point of its travel, and detachable guide member engaging means forming a fixed part of the carriage and serving for securing the latter in interengaged position with said guide member.

8. In a device of the class indicated, the combination with a substantially upright guide bar having at least one toothed portion in the form of a gear rack, of a mobile carriage operative therewith and comprising a frame with a platform for supporting stacked-up merchandise or the like, at least two oppositely disposed, revolvable guide bar engaging means associated with the carriage and adapted to cooperate with the opposite edges of the guide bar, one of the bar engaging means constituting a grooved roller, the other forming a drum having at least one set of gear teeth in engagement with a corresponding gear rack and a groove formation for accommodating one bar edge, a fixed shaft forming the journal for the drum, a spring within the latter and being so disposed that it becomes wound provided with the drum, the gear teeth engaging the teeth of said gear rack, a spring within the drum, one end of the spring being secured to the interior periphery of the drum, its other end engaging said shaft, the spring ends being so held within the drum that whenthe carriage is moved in one direction, the spring is being wound and brought under increasing tension, and when the carriage is released the spring unwinds, thereby causing the carriage to move in opposite direction.

6. In a device of the class indicated, as per claim 5, a manually operable pawl associated with the carriage and adapted to cooperate with the drum teeth for temporarily preventing the un winding of the drum spring and for arresting the movement of the carriage in respect to the guide.

7. In a device of the class indicated, the combination with a substantially vertically disposed, immovably held guide member, of a self-powered article support adapted to normally move in upward direction in respect to and operative in conjunction with said guide member, the latter including at least one gear rack, said support comprising a frame structure including an article receiving platform and a plurality of guide mem ber engaging means, one of said guide member engaging means comprising a grooved roller, the other being a drum rotatably mounted in the frame structure, a fixed shaft forming the journal for the drum, gear teeth and a guide flange extending peripherally from the drum, said guide when the drum is caused to rotate in one direction, and, when the drum is released, to have the tendency of unwinding, thereby rotating the drum in opposite direction, said roller being located above and in rear of the drum and engaging the rear edge of the guide bar, the drum engaging the front edge of the latter, a removable guide element associated with the frame beneath the roller and in rear of and below the drum and being adapted to secure the carriage, the roller and the drum in correct operative position in respect to the guide bar, and to retain the gear teeth of the drum properly spaced from and in engagement with the teeth of the gear rack.

9. In a device of the class indicated, as per claim 8, said guide bar being slightly inclined, in that its upper end is offset rearwardly in respect to its lower end, thereby causing the platform to somewhat slant in a rearward direction.

10. In a device of the class indicated, the combination with a stationary guide element, of a self-propelled traveler independent of, removably secured to, guided upon and operative in respect to said guide element, said traveler including a rotatable guide member, movable along one edge of the guide element, and two other guide members opposite said rotatable guide member and movable along the other edge of the guide element, one of the two other guide members being detachable to facilitate removal of the traveler from the guide element.

11, In a device of the class indicated, as per claim 10, motor for actuating the traveler and forming a part of said rotatable guide member, a variable source of energy supplying power to the motor and being so arranged that its effective power gradually increases when the traveler, and thereby the motor, are forcibly moved and caused to operate in one direction, and gradually decreases when the traveler and its motor are freed to be operated by the source of energy in oppo- 5 site direction.

12. In a device of the class indicated, the combination with a substantially vertical, stationary, slightly inclined, guide element, of a self-powered traveler removably secured to, guided upon and in operative engagement with said element and being adapted to bodily move in either upward or downward direction along said element, said traveler including a removably mounted, rotatable guide member in operative engagement with one edge of the guide element and two other guide members in operative engagement with the opposite edge of the guide element, one of the two later members being removable to facilitate the disengagement of the traveler from the guide element.

13. In a, device of the class indicated, as per claim 12, said rotatable guide member of the traveler comprising a spring motor within a drum, the latter being adapted to bodily roll along said guide element and thereby forcibly move the traveler relative to the guide element in at least one direction.

14. In a device of the class indicated, as per claim 12, said rotatable guide member of the traveler comprising a motor including a drum, the latter being adapted to bodily roll along said guide element and thereby forcibly move the traveler relative to the guide element in at least one direction, a power source, such as a coil spring, within the motor drum, said spring being so dis posed in relation to the drum body that when the latter is revolved in one direction by moving the traveler downwardly along the guide element, the spring becomes wound, and when the traveler is released the spring will unwind and rotate the drum body in opposite direction and thereby cause the traveler to move upwardly, the power effect of the spring gradually diminishing as it becomes unwound.

15. In a device of the class indicated, a fixedly held, bodily immovable guide element, an automatic, self-contained, self-propelled appliance bodily movable in two directions along said guide element, the motive source of the appliance being integral therewith and being adapted to not only induce movement of the appliance in one of the directions against a variable counter force, but to compensate for variations occurring in that force, said appliance comprising a platform, a frame. depending therefrom and comprising two members in front and one member in rear of said guide element, said motive source being mounted between the front members, and a rotatable and a fixed but removable guide member associated with the rear frame member.

16. In a device for automatically elevating articles a fixed combination of a two-edged guide bar and a gear rack, a self-propelled traveler adapted for movement along said bar and rack combination and comprising a removably mounted, independent, self-contained, completely closed, bodily revolvable motor in rolling engagement with the gear rack and with one edge of the guide bar, and a rotatable and another fixed but removable guide member, both members being disposed at and being in engagement with the opposite edge of the guide bar, said traveler being rendered detachable from the bar and rack combination when said fixed guide member is removed.

17. In a device for automatically elevating articles, a fixed combination of a two-edged guide bar and a gear rack, a self-propelled traveler adapted for movement along said bar and rack combination and comprising an article support and a frame, a self-contained, completely closed spring motor provided exteriorly with gear teeth and being removably journaled in and wholly revolvable relative to the frame and being in rolling engagement, by way of its teeth, with the gear rack and, by way of its body, with one edge of the guidebar, but having no other connection, whatsoever, with any other part of the device, a rotatable and another fixed but removable guide member secured in the frame and being positioned for engaging the other, opposite edge of the guide bar, said fixed guide member, when removed, facilitating the disassociation of the traveler from the gear rack and guide bar combination.

MARIO CARUSO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,679,904 Hunt Aug. 7, 1928 1,997,079 Reimers Apr. 9, 1935 1,809,918 Thompson June 16, 1931 

